Tagged: Gene Hermanski

At age 19, Marv Rackley was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1941. He played for the Valdosta Trojans, the Durham Bulls and the Dayton Ducks.

On October 5, 1942, Rackley entered the military service with the Army Air Force at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He spent the next three years in service.

Sergeant Rackley returned to the Dodgers organization in 1946. He joined the Montreal Royals where he played alongside Jackie Robinson. Rackley batted .305 with the Royals and was in the Dodgers line-up for the second game of the season in 1947. In 18 games as a pinch-hitter and runner he batted .222 before joining the St. Paul Saints where he batted .316.

In 1948, Rackley played 88 games with the Dodgers, batted .327, but with Hermanski, Reiser, Furillo, Snider, Shuba and Whitman all vying for outfield positions there was little room for him.

On May 18, 1949, Rackley was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for first baseman/outfielder Johnny Hopp plus $25,000. Rackley reported to the Pirates with a sore throwing arm. Pirates complained they had traded for a player who was unfit. Hopp was returned to the Pirates and Rackley went back to the Dodgers (wonder what happened to the 25K) where he played in 54 games, batted .291 and appeared in two World Series games against the Yankees.

In October 1949, the 28-year-old was purchased by the Reds for $60,000 but appeared in just five games the following season, spending most of the year with the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. He spent most of 1952 with the Birmingham Barons and joined the Baltimore Orioles of the International League in 1952. 1953 he batted .320 in 111 games with the Orioles. 1954 he batted .328 with the Richmond Virginians. He ended his career with the Atlanta Crackers in 1955 when he also managed for part of the year.

Marv Rackley now

Marv Rackley still lives in his native South Carolina. I could not find a current picture of Marv Rackley.